Lord Huron

Lord Huron

Start here: "Time To Run," from Land of Dreams

Because of all the bands we saw utilize the dramatic Bon Iver slow-build technique — by which songs start slow and almost imperceptibly cascade into something bigger and louder — Lord Huron did it the most effortlessly. Ben Schneider, the one-man mastermind behind Lord Huron, has crafted the haziest, most vivid, and, ultimately, most unapologetically melodic debut of the year. Plus, it's maybe the most sonically wintry album of the year, meaning there's still a chance they get their due in the months ahead. And, finally, because if you'd prefer there was a little more My Morning Jacket in your Lumineers, this one's for you.